Barrel clamp



April 22, 1958 R. L. RENFROE 2,831,720

- BARREL CLAMP 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed May 21, 1956 lllllllllllll IN V EN TOR.

3' BY Raymond L fienfroc.

April 22, 1958 R. L. R'ENFROI: 2,831,720

BARREL CLAMP Filed May 21, 1956 2 Sheets$heet 2 INVENTOR. fins moral L. fieqfroe. BY

Unite States Patent BARREL CLAMP Raymond L. Renfroe, Jacksonville, Fla.

Application May 21, 1956, Serial No. 586,149

2 Claims. (Cl. 294-31.2)

This invention relates to improvements in devices used on containers in handling operations and more particularly to a barrel clamp having a novel locking arrangement.

It is an object of this invention to provide a barrel handling device which may be readily secured to the extremity of a barrel.

It is another object of this invention to provide a barrel clamp which has a contractable band that applies uniform pressure around a barrel.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a barrel clamp which may be secured to various sized containers by means of an adjustable contracting band.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a barrel clamping device that is so constructed that correct placement of the device on a barrel is assured.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a barrel clamp that may be used in combination with a sling or other carrying devices in the handling of various sized heavy barrels without danger of the barrels slipping out of the clamp.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a barrel clamp constructed so as to have maximum ruggedness by virtue of which it will not be readily damaged by the rough treatment to which such devices are subjected to during the handling of heavy barrels.

Other objects, capabilities and advantages are contemplated by this invention and will become apparent in the specification and drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device secured to a container in locked position.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top view of the locking means in locked position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the locking means in release position.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the locking means in release position.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the locking means in locked position.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, gripping band 1 is formed to have a greater diameter than that of the usual container or barrel to which it is to be secured. Band 1 is composed of a resilient metal and is split so that it is adapted to be contracted when secured to a barrel and tends to expand for removal. A locking mechanism connects the ends of split band 1 by means of a pivoted linking mechanism to be presently described.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, locking lever Sis pivotally secured to apertured lugs 2 and welded or otherwise permanently attached at 20, so as to be solidly attached to I one end of connecting link 4. The other end of the link 4 is pivotally connected to pin 7 between the bifurcated or forked ends 3 of the adjustable cradle assembly 6 also pivotally connected to pin 7.

The adjustable cradle assembly 6 consists of forked ends 2,831,720 Patented Apr. 22, 8

ice

3 which are curved or hooked at one extremity to form a depression or notch 14. The other extremity of assembly 6 terminates in a threaded collar 9. Assembly 6 slidably bears on band 11 which is secured to gripping band 1 by means of a series of nuts 12 and bolts 13.

Abutment stud 10 is welded or otherwise permanently attached to band 11 at a point near one end of and intermediate the top and bottom of the band so that stud 10 fits in between ends 3 when the assembly 6 is mounted on the band. Then, by screwing an adjusting bolt 8 in collar 9, it can be seen that band 1 will contract and form a smaller ring in order to fit drums and barrels of various diameters or to apply firmer pressure on a particularly heavy barrel when it is to be lifted and handled.

The adjustment of bolt 8 to allow'band 1 to form either a smaller or larger ring may, of course, be made when the clamp is in both locked and released positions.

When the device is to be used to move a heavy drum or barrel, lever 5 is turned to the released position shown in Figures 4 and 5 and the device is placed over the top of a barrel. Locking lever 5 is manually swung or turned clockwise so that connecting link 4 pivots on pin 7 and turns inwardly.

Accordingly, band 1 contracts as ends 3 become interposed between lugs 2, as shown in Figure 6, and lever 5 toggles in notch 14a of the cradle assembly 6 to locked position. A turn of lever 5 counterclockwise quickly allows the flexible band 1 to assume an expanded shape in order that the barrel may be released.

The device is most satisfactorily utilized to lift and handle heavy drums or barrels which are rimmed. In this connection, Figure 1 illustrates the device secured in locked position to barrel 17 under bead or rim 18. By correctly sizing the girth of band 1 by means of adjusting bolt 8 in cooperation with assembly 6, a tight or relatively loose fitting between barrel 17 and band 1 may be easily realized.

A series of L-shaped lugs 14 may be attached to band 1 whereby they effectively act as safety stops by overlapping the top of barrel 17 as shown in Figure 2, and prevent it from passing through band 1 should the barrel become upset during handling operations. The lugs 14 are further useful in correctly positioning band 1 on the barrel 17 prior to locking the device to the barrel, since they prevent band 1 from sliding down the length of the barrel while lever 5 is being toggled in notch 14 of cradle assembly 6.

A chain sling 15 may be connected to band 1 preferably by means of angular pad brackets 16 having eyelets 30 through which end links of the chain sling 15 are passed. The middle of the sling (not shown) may have any conventional fastening means such as a hook, loop, etc. to facilitate crane handling.

In operation, when a heavy drum or barrel 17 is to be handled, the sling is dropped over the barrel and a service man may quickly actuate locking lever 5 to locking position and, if necessary, adjust the girth of band 1 to the correct gripping diameter which applies the desired amount of pressure to the barrel.

After handling, lever 5 is turned to release position whereupon band 1 naturally assumes an expanded shape due to its flexibility and the device may be quickly removed.

Thus I have provided a unique barrel handling device having many advantages and improvements over those implements presently employed for similar purposes.

While I have described my invention herein and illustrated a specific embodiment in the drawings, those skilled in the art to which my invention relates will appreciate other applications for which the device may be used and various changes to the construction that may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inven-.

tion. My disclosures and the description herein are set forth for illustrative purposes only and are not to be in any sense limiting.

I claim:

1. In a barrel clamp, a circular split gripping band, over-center toggle locking mechanism, said mechanism comprising a first forked member rigidly attached to one end of said band, an adjustable cradle assembly comprising a second forked member having a fork at one of its ends and a threaded collar at its other end, a stud rigidly mounted on said band adjacent to but spaced from the opposite end of said band, said stud normally extending between the furcations of the second named forked memher, a screw bolt threadedly engaging said threaded collar and extending between said furcations into engagement with said stud for adjustably connecting said cradle to the said opposite end of said band, the said first-named forked member being adapted to extend an the outside of the second forked member when said band is in operative gripping position, a first pivot means extending between the furcations of said cradle, a locking lever having a curved end portion extending through the first-named forked member and forming a second pivot means, a connecting link having ends, one of which is pivotally connected to the first-named pivot means and the opposite end of which is rigidly connected to said second-named pivot means whereby when said lever is rotated said link freely pivots on said first-named pivot means to swing the confronting ends of said split band toward each other, and whereby when said bolt is adjusted against said stud said band ends are moved to more closely approach each other.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said band is provided with a plurality of spaced brackets, a sling chain, and means for supporting said sling chain on said brackets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,148,472 Adams July 27, 1915 1,294,610 Bosserman Feb .18, 1919 2,305,994 Richards Dec. 22, 1942 2,453,492 Carter Nov. 9, 1948 2,632,666 Cunningham Mar. 24, 1953 

